Federal annual fee

The child support office may charge a fee for services. Federal law requires states to collect $25 every year for eligible child support cases. This $25 fee is in addition to other fees, such as the cost recovery fee.

Who pays the fee?

The state child support office will charge the custodial parent the $25 fee each year if both of the following are true:

The state processed at least $500 in child support payments on the case

The custodial parent has never received cash assistance for the children at any time from:

The child support office collects this fee once a year. It is redirected from support collected from the parent owing support before the payment is sent to the other parent. A parent who has more than one eligible case may pay more than one federal fee.

The child support office uses the federal fiscal year, October 1 through September 30 of the following year, to determine when it has processed $500 in support payments in an eligible case.

Is the fee ever waived?

The child support office will not charge the fee if any of the following are true:

The child, while living with the custodial parent, received cash assistance under a public assistance program, including:

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The terminology used to describe people with disabilities has changed over time. The Minnesota Department of Human Services (“Department”) supports the use of “People First” language. Although outmoded and offensive terms might be found within documents on the Department’s website, the Department does not endorse these terms.